Key for coin delivery machines



Sept' 8s E. J. BRANDT KEY FOR COIN DE v LlVERY MACHINES Filed March 4 192 Sept- 8, 1931- E. J. BRANDT 1,822,560

KEY FOR COIN DELIVERY MACHINES Filed March 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y W f2 E Wifi/:Z5 md5 Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNiTEDsrATEs .EDWARD BRANDT', 0F WAT11IETO\V.-1\T,y WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB `'10k BRANDT AUTOMATIC GASHIER COMPANY, F WATERTOWN, WISCONSIN KEY` FOR COIN DELIVERY. MACHINES .Application filed March 4, 1926. Serial No. 92,248.

This invention relates tocoin delivery machines, and is particularly directed to an improved form 0f key action for such machines.

In coin delivery machines in which the depression-ofthe key actuates a rocking or movable -member which in turn, transmits motion to com pushers,it has been found that a very great loss in friction occurs at the I l lower support for the'key shank in machines of this general type. These machines customarily are made with two spaced plates through which the shank of the key slides, and it is usually the case that the feet of the keys are offset a materialk distance from the axis ofthe shank. Consequently, the tilting tendency ofthese keys makes the key shanks bind'tightly against the lower plate bearing and also causes a great deal of'friction at the sliding joint between the foot ofthe key and the'inovable member or rocking member. Further than this, it has heretofore been necessaryto space these guide plates, or key holding plates, widely apart Vin an eil'ort to reducefriction. The ultimate result of the construction was that the machines had key portions which were relatively high and .necessitated an Avextensive reach for the operator. When this is considered in connection with the relatively hard action of the'keys, it is appreciated that the strain on anL operator continuously working easy depression ofl the keys results, in which the ent-ire device is .condensed or compacted, and in which the keys are materially lower rthan has heretofore'been possible 4and consequently, are very much -more easily reached.

open so that any combination of rockers may be operated by aV single key without 'disturbing other keys.

Further objects are to provide a coin handling machine in which the plates' for holdingthe lkeys are very much 'closer togethen than has heretofore vbeen possible, and in which the friction is gieatlyreduced throughout the entire key mechanism.

Further objects are to provide a novel form of key mechanism in which the upper portion.

of the key is guided, and in which the lower portion of the key is caused to follow the motion of the lower arm or movable member by means of the open bearing.

Further `objects are to provide a novelAk form of key mechanism in which the lower plate cooperates with the lower portion of thekey shank in such avmanner as to lock the keys against laterali or longitudinal shifting whenthe' keys are elevated, but which perymits rocking of the lower portion of the shank or intermediate portion when the key is depressed.

The machine chosen for illustration is that` of the Brandt type, commonly known as the Brandt cashier.77 i

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure'l is ra longitudinal sectional view through the machine. l

Figure. 2 is a fragnientary'enlarged sectional view showing one key and the associated rocker in a partially depresse'dposition and showing, in dotted lines, the mechanism in elevated and in completely depressed position.

Figure 3 is a somewhat similar view showing one key in completely depressedposition andshowing an adjacent key in elevated position. y

:Figure 2l is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view 'on the line "of the key l5--5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, itfwill be seen that the machine comprises a main body'portion or casing l within which the mechanism 1s `mounted. This casing may be carried by suitable feet 2 which space it from the rdesk top. It is provided with the usual coin hoppers 3 within which the coins 4 are positioned. Coin pushers 5 extend through apertures 6 and shove Jthe coins forwardly from the bottom of the coin hoppers. These coin pushers may be any .desired type. For instance, they may have a lower or supporting member 5 which is pivoted to the main member and a spring interposed between such members as shown. These push-r ers are described in greater detail in my co pending application 4199 for coin delivery machine filed January 23, 1925. These coin pushers may he pivotally mounted upon the forward end of sliding plates 7. These sliding plates are. preferably provided with a pair of slots 8 which enclose guiding rollers 9. These sliding members or plates are actuated by means of pitmen l() which are pivoted at their forward ends to the plates, and at their rear ends to the outwardly projecting arms 11 of the rockers. These rockers consist of transverse bars 12 which are carried at opposite ends by means of short levers 13 pivoted to the sides of the machine as described in greater detail in my copending ap plication. Preferably, the bars 12 have their upper ends folded over to provide a rounded upper surface.

The keys extend through an upper slotted plate 14 and a lower slotted plate 15. The keys each comprise a shank 16, which at its upper end, is provided with a transverse member 17 to form a cross shape. The slots in the upper plate 14 are Vcorrespondingly shaped as shown in the sectional view Figure 4. The shank is cut away, as indicated at 1S, at an intermediate portion adjacent its lower end, and preferably a. shoulder 19 is formed in the upper portion of the shank. A spring 2O has its upper end seated against this shoulder and its lower end resting on the plate 15, and consequently, urges the key upwardly. The lower portion of the shank is of the original width of the shank and constitutes, in effect, an enlargement as indicated at 21 in Figure 2. The lower slot 22 is of suiiicient size to receive the enlargement 21 when the key is elevated as shown in Figure 3. However, when the key is depressed, the cutouts 18 clear the forward and rear ward edges of the slot 22 and permit free rocking of the intermediate portion of the key. The key is provided with one or more offset feet 28 which are provided with rounded sockets 24 adapted to engage the rounded upper portion of the rockers 12 when the key Vis depressed.

It is to be particularly noted, from reference to Figure 2, that when the key is depressed, the foot 23 follows the motion of the rocker 12, and the key freely rocks about the upper plate without being restrained against this rocking motion by the lower plate. Thus, there is no binding whatsoever between the shank of the key, and the lower plate, and the upper plate merely guides the key for sliding and rocking motion. The lower end of the key or foot 23 is thus free to move and to follow the curved or other path of the rocker 12. y

In these machines, the keys may be provided with a plurality of feet indicated in Figures 1 and 3. These feet are provided in order to secure various combinations, whereby any desired combination of rockers can be actuated by means of a single key. The bearings between the feet and rockers are open bearings, and consequently, the rockers may freely move away from the elevated feet of the keys which are not in action, as indicated Y in Figure 3. The cutout in the lower end of the keys is of a size to permit the free rocking` therefrom of the rockers.

It is to be distinctly understood that the' caring formed by the rockers and the feet may be reversed, that 1s to say, the rockers may be provide-d with the concavities and the keys may be provided with the rounded por tions.

In actual practice, it has been found that these keys may be operated with the minimum of effort as there is no binding whatsoever to their sliding and rocking motions. The..

upper end of the key is, as stated, guided by the upper plate, while the lower end or foot of the key freely travels in the path of the rocker or movable member. This results in a great reduction of friction as the key does y not bind against the lower plate, and also as there is no sliding motion between the foot and the rocker, as has heretofore been the case.

It is also to be noted that the oifsct feet,u

when considered in relation to the shank of the key, do not canse any binding whatsoever sueh offset portion is merely pivotally carried by the rocker.

It will be seen, therefore, that a novel form o-f coin handling machine has been provided in which the total height of the machine is greatly lessened, although the discharge end is spaced the requisite distance from the table top, and in which a very compact arrange-Y ment is secured. Y

It is to be noted particularly that an enormous reduction in friction is secured by this invention for the rea-Sons stated above, and consequently, the minimum effort on the part of the operator is required for the depression of the keys. When this fact is considered in connection with the decreased reach called for, it is appreciated that the maximum speed and ease of operation is attained by this in-f vention.

Although the invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as illustrative ratherthan limiting as the invention may be variously embodied and as the scope of such invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a coin delivery machine, in combination a key mounted for sliding and rocking movement, an offset foot on one end of the key having a rounded socket at its outer end, and a movable transverse bar normally engaging said foot, said bar having its upper edge folded upon itself to form a rounded bearing surface cooperating with the rounded socket.

2. In a coin delivery machine, a pair of spaced guide plates arranged in substantially parallel relation, a spring pressed operating key slidable through said plates, the openino in the uppermost of said plates for the key conforming to the transverse configuration thereof, the opening in the lowermost of said plates for the key being of greater length than said cross sectional length of the key portion passing therethrough whereby rocking of the key on the upper plate is permitted during the sliding thereof, and a movable member having a portion constrained to move along a predetermined path, said key and said portion having companion bearing members one of said members consisting of a rounded bearing surface and the other a concaved receiving socket.

3. In a coin delivery machine a pair of spaced guide plates arranged in substantially parallel relation, a spring pressed operating key having a shank slidable through said plates, the opening in the uppermost of said plates for the key conforming to the transverse configuration of the shank, the opening in the lowermost of said plates for the shank being of greater length than the cross sectional length of said shank portion passing therethrough, said shank being enlarged substantially above and below the lowerInost plate, and an operating foot on the lower end of the shank disposed below the lowermost plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at lVatertown, in the county of Jefferson and State 0f Wisconsin.

EDWARD J. BRANDT. 

